^AY 1, 1902.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
export trade beina; so far chieHv confined to leaf, 
having constantly favourably influenced tlie value 
of such, to tlie seeming detriment of brokens. 
This feature will doubtless become less prominent 
as outside markets learn to use the whole assort- 
ment. 
Statistical Position.— Shipments for the past 
year to the United Kingdom totalled 107 millions 
against 114^ in 1900, which, togetlier with an in- 
crease in Deliveries in the 12 mouths of 2i millions, 
resulted in a reduced stock of 5 millions at the 
opening of the present year, compared with 1st Jan., 
1901. Generally speaking the immediate position 
under this heading is satisfactory, especially wlien 
it is noted that the imports during the 12 montlis 
ending 31st December last were actually some 
5 million lbs less than the total deliveries tor a 
like period. For the twelve months the following 
on Estate Account pissed the hammer in 
London : — 
1901. 1900. 1899. 
1.059,800 pkgs. 1,125,100 pkgs. 1,000,000 pkga. 
* (Av. 73 ^ lb.) (Av. 7icl ^ lb.) (Av. Sd ^ lb.) 
• Includes the unprecedentedly low rates ruling 
last spring. 
The Board of Trade returns for all Tea (which 
embraces every Bonded Warehouses in the U. K.) 
for the past three calendar years were : — 
Home 
Consumption. Export. 
1901 255,873,000 lb. 43,388,000 lb. 
1900 .. .. 249,792,000 ,, *38,V)07,000 ,, 
1899 242,561,000 „ 82,223,000 „ 
Total Bonded Stock, 
Deliveries. Dec. 31. 
1901 299,261,000 1b. 115,951,0001b. 
1900 288,699,000 „ tll9,430,000 „ 
1899 .. .. 274,784,000 „ 113,010,000 „ 
• Excluding about 4J million lb. of Brick Tea tran- 
shipped to Siberia, f Re-adjusted. 
This denotes a further extension of over 6 
million lb. in the use of the article at hofne. 
It is calculated that the consumption per head of 
the population of the United Kingdom, which was 
4| lb. in 1880 and 5 lb. in 1890, had risen to 6| lb. 
in 1901. Exports to the Continent, «&c , from 
here, of British growth mark an expansion of about 
7i million lb., not including " overside " tran- 
shipments, and compare with an increase to 
outside ports from Colombo of 5^ million lb. 
and a decrease from Calcutta of rather over 2 
million lb. 
Pbospeots.— The producer has it largely in his 
power to make or mar, and we would urge upon 
all interested the high importance of remembering 
that only by a rigid adherence to the policy of 
keeping supplies within the limits of consumption, 
can be found any hope of preventing the already 
improved situation from again taking a retro- 
grade movement. Finer and more careful pluck- 
ing, combined with climatic influences, have been 
the factors at work, and together they have un- 
doubtedly, at least for the time being, saved the 
situation. Let it be well understood, if growers 
are again placed in the position they occupied in 
Season 1900 — 1901, when they had to force a 
quantity out of all proportion to consuming possi- 
bilities down the throats of the trade, they will 
assuredly once again feel the inevitable result of 
transgressing the laws of supply and demand. 
The heavy extensions carried out abouS the middle 
of the last decade are only just coming into full 
maturity, and under normal weather the approach- 
ing crop may easily get out of hand in respect to 
quantity. la spite of all warnings and the ex- 
perience that the contrary usually happens, the 
feature of any one season iis regards an enhanced 
price obtaining for any particular grade has almost 
invaiiably been reflected in the production of lite 
following one. Looking then at the comparatively 
high level on which common descriptions have 
stood during most of the past season, there is an 
element here of further danger. Under similar 
circumstancif: have we not heard the giower, who 
can produce "stand out" quality, peiliaps not un- 
naturally, exclaim that he will make no more lii,e 
tea, so-and-so having got within a trifle of his 
average and made many maunds more per acre. 
And thus the seeds are sown for an enormously 
augmented crop of an inferior article. 
It was on this basis, after the unforhcnatc — 
we use the word advisedly — abnormally high price 
for common tea season 1899-1900 closed wiih, that 
the unwieldy eiop of 19U01901 was gathered, 
the disastrous results of which should still be 
green in memory. It is manifest that conspicuous 
success in curtailing the out turn must to an 
appreciable extent follow a climatic condition 
of slow growth, and in the possible absence of 
this most necessary factor, in order to lessen the 
element of chance as regards such, all the greater 
care will be calle<l for in the direction of restrict- 
ing output. The mere regulation of plucking, only 
a given number of leaves and a bud in any un- 
usually free flushing period will scarcely suHice ; 
in the latter event it may at times be es.sential, 
even at the expense of cultivation, to put a 
larger share of the labour force to gather leaf and 
so get round the garden at shorter intervals. It is 
obvious that the longer the leaf is allowed to 
"run," ill like latio will the income of green 
leaf be increased in bulk and weight and decreased 
in quality. 
In our foregoing remarks we have included the 
question of supply, as it is inseparably bound up 
with *' pi ospects " and in it lies the whole crux 
of the matter. If it can be moie widely realised 
that in the ability to show an increased out- turn 
in t'le weekly returns from Gardens does not 
alone lie salvation, the future welfare of the 
Trade will become more assured In this connec- 
tion we would draw attention to a most signi- 
ticant letter under the heading "Japan Tea," 
which appeared in the Home and Colonial Mail 
of the 7th instant, and which is of pregnant 
interest when applied to India and Ceylon. 
The writer proves by published statistics that 
from their maximum point in 1891, the exports 
from that country had fallen in 1900 to the extent 
of 20 per cent., while the valuation of the re- 
duced quantity had risen by fully 30 per cent. 
He summarises the po.5ition thus :—" The moral 
is a plain one. If India and Ceylon can keep 
down their quantities, improve their qualities, 
and gain an increased 30 per cent, on the selling 
values, the crisis in tea production will soon be 
a memory only." To grapple successfully with 
disease you must strike at the root, and it need.s 
no special knowledge to diagnose the source of 
the trouble our trade has been sufi'ering from. 
The regulating of sales, &c , may at times afford 
relief, but we must go further to find a permanent 
cure. Speaking generally, no disturbing feature 
mars the outlook if only the market is not overfed. 
The use of tea is becoming more and more com- 
mon throughout the civilized world, aud some 
compensation may here be found for the low 
prices which have accompanied excessive supplies, 
and no doubt aided the opening of new markets. 
The grower has however sown freely to his cost, 
